Smartphones Show 28 is an eleven minute Nokia N95 review special, complete with iPhone-esque intro. I look at how well (or badly) it does at replacing each of 11 standalone devices. As ever, it's in cross-platform MP4 format, if your desktop can't run Quicktime or similar then here's a slightly lower quality version on YouTube.
Read on in the full article.
I definitely want one, but the retailers have to be kidding with the price just at the moment. The Stuff Mag podcast was saying it's just an "early adopter tax", which I suppose is the case. Browsing around I see that Expansys are offering them with a "normally three day" delivery for �630. The cheapest I can see is Amazon at �510 but they don't seem to have any stock. Amazon also have a seller offering them for �475 but he's a "new seller" with no feedback. I also see a guy on Ebay who claims to have five, currently at �410, but I seem to have left my asbestos finger-protectors in the wash. Once I see them at reputable retailers for less than �400 I think I may treat myself.
Great review BTW, Steve. You should definitely leave the evangelising to Steve Jobs, though: I much prefer your normal style 😉
Enjoyed the review Steve thanks. I'm looking forward to some reviews that get more in to the nitty gritty of the apps and all the phones' features etc. I'd also love to see an up to date round-up of media player software such as SmartMovie and the like - to see which would be best on the N95 and have advanced settings to convert files on the PC.
I'm told that mine should ship on Monday and take 2-3 days - cost me �80 on contract and �25 for a 2GB micro sd which I think is pretty good!
Can't wait to get my hands on this and I'm currently choosing films and music videos to show of to everyone at work 😃.
"Browsing around I see that Expansys are offering them with a "normally three day" delivery for 630 pounds. "
neilhoskins, sim-free retailers in the UK rip people off really badly. Really REALLY badly.
You can get N95s sim-free in Finland from most reputable retailers for 700 to 750 euros (475 - 509 pounds), and that includes next day delivery and the much higher 22% level of Finnish VAT. With British levels of VAT, that works out at 435 to 466 pounds including delivery!
http://www.lohenette.fi/brand_19.html
http://www.gsm-store.com/product_catalog.php?c=4&page=6
Finland has "early adopter taxes" too, models tumble in price a few months after their release, but the starting price is always much lower in Finland than in the UK.
I think the Finnish market has much more competition between sim-free retailers because phone locking was banned for many years here, so they're much more dependent on getting sim-free customers through the door.
Can't wait to have a look at this video when I get home. On the subject of price, I'm reminded of a slightly strange phenomenen I've noticed that I wondered if anyone could explain.
Symbian devices (S60 and UIQ) seem to launch at a very high SIM Free price and then drop quitte quickly. To take a couple of examples, Expansys were charging well over �600 for the P990 and W950 and yet they are both now around the �350 mark. THe M600 was over �400 and yet is now around �230.
The N95 looks like it will do similarly.
And yet the Windows Mobile devices don't seem to follow that trend. The MiniS launched at just over �400 16 months ago and is now about �395. THe Tytn was launched in late July at �430 and is still the same price.
All of these devices are readily available on contract from most of the major networks so I really can't think of any explanation. Anyone?
Bassey - I suspect part of this is to do with demand. The Nokia / Sony Ericsson phones are generally in high demand after they are first available. Suppliers will willing pay more early on and past this on (+ more) to customers. As time goes on the supply chain settles down...
Basically I think its a case they can sell at that price they will do so. As Krisse posts above shows clearly some UK retailers charge above trade price in other countries. makes you wonder eh?
Of course..it's the way it's always been...since 2001, with the 7650, i remember that being very expensive when it came out, only to drop right down a few months later, ive owned pretty much every s60 nokia made mobile, with the exception of the n93 and n90...nokia have certainly made big inroads to s60 awareness since then...
Regarding the video, i think, although reasonably detailed overview if you like, rather than a review, it's safe to say i think alot of people were expecting what you have pointed out..as regard's to the handsets letdown's...ie. ram issue (has become quite constant in the list of complaint's against the s60 in general), battery, i hope not a constant theme from the n80 upwards, with exception of the n73, which, gives reasonable performance...it's great to have all these function's, and really work your particular s60 smartphone like a workhorse...if you have the battery power..
overall then, a certain step up...without a doubt...but leaving old complaints unsolved, and more than likely, when in market for a while, we will see a few more added..
it'll be a good addition to the series..one i'm sure alot of you will enjoy..
I also wanted to mention the n93 video quality to review the n95. it looks great and a real "look how far we've come..." video for those wanting to see good progression in other area's s60 devices....
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Steve, thank you for a very professional review of the N95.